John Stones has decided to move abroad following his Manchester City exit, rejecting Chelsea to join Inter Milan on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old England defender left City at the end of June after a decade at the Etihad, during which he made 295 appearances and won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and five League Cups. His contract expired while he was at the World Cup with England, where he started the quarter-final and semi-final as Thomas Tuchel’s side reached the last four.
“John Stones rejects Chelsea to join Inter Milan on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City.”
Inter, the reigning Serie A champions, had held positive discussions with Stones before the tournament, and his impressive form in England’s run to the semi-finals has now propelled them into pole position. The Mirror reports that an agreement in principle has been secured with the Englishman on a deal until 2028.
Chelsea, under new manager Xabi Alonso, were keen to add Stones’ quality and experience, holding multiple rounds of talks. But the centre-half ultimately turned down the prospect of a move to Stamford Bridge to pursue his ambitions elsewhere in Europe. The Guardian notes that the deal could yet collapse should a requisite Premier League club express an interest, though neither Arsenal nor Chelsea have made a move for Stones.
Speaking towards the end of last season, Stones said: “I still feel I have so much to give a club and I feel in a good moment physically. There is a lot for me still to fight for in my career and a new challenge will be exciting. I’m keeping an open mind. I can take what I have learned here and maybe pass it on.”
Reflecting on his time at City, he added: “It’s been a roller coaster. You can look at it like that and everything has ups and downs and good things, bad things. But to live out all my dreams and all my goals and all the things that I set out to achieve as a player and live as a player. Doing that has just been a dream and to be able to give that to everyone and do it in the style and fashion that we have and make everyone’s dream come true with obviously that Treble season, something that the club’s never achieved or won. It’s been so special.”
Inter currently have no English players in their squad, but Stones could be reunited with former City teammate Manuel Akanji at the San Siro. The move would mark the first time the 93-cap international has played outside England, having previously represented Barnsley and Everton before his £47.5m switch to City in 2016.
